Patricia Couch, Certified Professional Midwife, practices in a freestanding water birth center in Oregon.

This interview clip is part of Rites of Passage, an exclusive video series and art/photo/ essay contest that engages mothers across the country in a dialogue about childbirth and the transformation of new motherhood. This series is hosted by Mindful Mama and features exclusive interviews with 25 of the world's leading midwives, physicians, activists, and scholars who advocate for safe, empowered birth. We invite you to watch the videos and participate in the Rites of Passage forum. Visit http://www.mindful-mama.com/forums/37... and tell us: How did becoming a parent - through birth or adoption- transform you?